As I write this, it is still not clear whether the Champions Trophy will still be in the calendar. If it does, it will be held in India in 2021, returning there after 2006.

Here we have the full statistical highlights from 1998-99 to 2017.

Most runs-300 and above:

Gayle and M. Jayawardene still head the list, with Dhawan now in 3rd place. Kohli and RG Sharma are a little further down, followed by other current players such as Morgan and Root.

4 players have made 3 centuries; Dhawan and the Three Gs, Gayle, Ganguly and Gibbs. 3 have made 6 scores of 50+; Dhawan, Dravid and Ganguly. Dravid made 6 scores between 50 and 99.

Highest innings (110 and above):

The record of Astle’s 145* against the USA remains, while the highest scores in 2017 were made by Root (133*) and Tamim (128).

Highest batting averages (Minimum 15 innings)-all cases:

Only Shoaib Malik features from those who appeared in 2017. The current Indian batsmen have not reached 15 innings yet. While Chanderpaul has the highest average, Gayle (closely followed by Jayasuriya) have the highest strike rates.

Turning to bowling:

Most wickets (15 and above):

KD Mills still holds the record with 28, while Malinga is now in second place with 25. The only other player from 2017 is Sir Ravindra.

No one has taken 5wi more than once, while several have taken two 4wis. They include Malinga (once in 2017) and Plunkett (twice in 2017).

Best innings bowling (includes all cases of 5wi and above):

The only outstanding performance in 2017 was Hazlewood’s 6-52, which is second in the overall list. There were a few 4wis, which are not shown in the above table.

Bowling averages (minimum 750 balls, all cases):

Only Malinga appears from those who played in 2017. Muralitharan has the best average as well as the best economy and strike rate. While his average is considerably better than that of Vaas in second place, Vettori’s economy rate and Malinga’s strike rate are relatively closer to Muralitharan’s figures.

Here are the statistics for all CT matches from 1998 to 2013. In case there is any doubt, it also includes the qualifying matches for the teams seeded 7th to 10th in 2006 which were played just before the “main” tournament for the top 8 teams.

Batting-most runs-250 and above:

Chris Gayle leads M Jayawardene and Sangakkara. The two Sri Lankans have played the most CT matches (22).

Gayle, Ganguly and Gibbs (the three Gs?) have the most centuries (3).

For scores of 50+, Dravid leads with 6 while several others have 5.

Highest innings scores (all scores of 100 and above):

Astle and Andy Flower lead, with Astle making his score against the US on its one Championship in 2004. As we will see later, Tendulkar’s 141* featured in one of the best all-round performances in the championship.

Batting averages (minimum 15 innings batted):

Chanderpaul is just above Gayle here.

It can be seen that the highest strike rates are 88.77 by Gayle and 88.01 by Jayasuriya.

Bowling (15 or more wickets):

Headed by the relatively unheralded Kyle Mills followed by Muralitharan.

Best innings bowling (including all 5wi):

Note that the only 6-wicket haul came from one of the qualifying matches in 2006.

Best bowling averages (minimum 750 balls bowled):

Muralitharan has the best bowling average, economy rate and strike rate.

Here is a list of instances where a side scored 500 or more and still lost a Test:

It can be seen that Bangladesh now has the record score in a loss, surpassing the 586 by Australia well over a century ago.

All of these instances came in the first or second innings of the match, except for the 510 by India in 1967. That was in a follow-on, and the Test is remembered partly for Pataudi’s 64 and 148 and more for Boycott being dropped for excessively slow scoring on the way to his Test best of 246*: http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/63004.html

We also look at scores of 450 or more in the 3rd and 4th inning in losses:

The highest 3rd-innings score in a loss is 510 as mentioned above. For the 4th innings it is 451 by NZ in 2001-02, which Pakistan just failed to cross earlier this season.

We see that Bangladesh’s innings included 217 by Shakib, which is the highest Test individual score for Bangladesh. The only other double centuries are 206 by Tamim and 200 by Mushfiqur. Incidentally, Shakib is one of the few to score a double century and duck in the same Test (regardless of the result). The highest such score is 245 by Shoaib Malik vs England in 2015-16.

There are, however, many instances of double centuries being scored in innings of sides losing Tests:

The record continues to be with RT Ponting with 242. Other greats including Lara, Graeme Pollock, Harvey and Hayden also appear here.

All of these efforts came in the first or second innings except for Astle’s 222 which figured in New Zealand’s 451 mentioned above:

We also look at individual scores of 175 and above in the 3rd and 4th innings for losing teams:

The highest such score in the 3rd innings is 199* by Andy Flower. Numerous other well-known players also appear here.

An afterthought-we look at combined scores in both innings by a batsman in a losing side:

Although there are numerous instances of centuries in both innings of a lost Test, Lara is the only one to make a double century and a century. Andy Flower just missed it with his 142 and 199*. Also note Ponting’s 242 and 0.